By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Hayden High School Senior Owen Hargett has had a unique high school experience.

It’s not the fact that he played three sports — football, baseball and basketball — or that he won the DAR Good Citizen Award, was voted class president and “Mr. Senior” that made his academic career unique.

Owen has had the privilege — or disadvantage — of having his dad at his school every day. His father, Allen Hargett, is the principal of Hayden High School.

“It definitely has its good and bad points,” Owen Hargett said of the situation. “I get to do a lot of extra stuff because of him, but at the same time he sees what grades I make and watches over me.”

He’s had plenty of other family watchdogs throughout his academic career. His mom, Lisa Hargett, was his fifth-grade elementary school teacher. His uncle, Kim Hargett, coached him in football and baseball.

All that supervision hasn’t slowed down the 18-year-old in terms of academics or extracurricular activities. Owen’s ranked 11th in his class with a GPA of 4.2. In addition to his athletic career, he’s still found time to hang out with friends, go fishing and hunting and spend time with his dog Molly, a golden retriever-labrador mix.

Allen Hargett said his own leadership at the school has not impacted his son’s ability to make friends or take part in activities. He said his son has never belonged to a school clique and gets along well with everyone, from athletes to band students.

“It’s been a double-edged sword for him, but for the most part it’s been great,” he said. “I’ve always told him, ‘Someone may get mad at you because of something I’ve done,’ but that hasn’t been a problem.”

When Owen Hargett graduates on May 28, Principal Allen Hargett will still have family in school in the form of twin sons in the 10th grade. Hargett’s daughter also graduated from Hayden High School three years ago under he dad’s watchful eye.

Owen said he’ll miss much about his high school career, including the teachers who shaped him and the friends he’s made. Upon leaving school, he’ll pursue a degree in nursing at Jefferson State Community College. He became interested in the medical field after getting into the television shows “House” and “ER.”

“One of my goals in life is to save somebody’s life,” he said. “I want to eventually be a nurse practitioner after I get my nursing degree.”

Hayden High School counselor Karen Standridge coached Owen in basketball and just describes him as a “really good guy.”

“I’ve had a lot of personal dealings with him and just watched him grow up,” she said. “One of the things I like about him is that he’s a really sincere person. If I had a son, I’d want him to be like Owen.”